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MGB Timing questions again

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Jerry

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My friend took his MGB that I have worked on to a mechanic to tune the carb. It is a 1978 and I don't have an engine analyzer to test the tailpipe output and adjust the Zenith carbs. The car ran well, had lots of power and did not overheat. The mechanic told my friend that the distributor was 30 degrees out and changed it, now it won't start. I cannot see how it would have run for me if it was 30 degrees out. If he can't get it to start now, that seems to indicate he is an idiot?

The car did have some pinging on acceleration so I would have believed that it might be a little off. Not like I have a professional timing light. But the gun said it was 10 degrees at 850rpm as per the sticker on the slam panel. I am betting that the car will be back at my house soon to get it running again. This car had a Pertronics Flamethrower distributor installed into it at the last visit. According to Pertronics, the advance springs in the distributor are the same as the 45D original distributor.

any ideas?
Jerry
 
No way it was 30 degrees out. Once you reset it to where you had it, it'll be back to normal. If it pings, you might retard the timing a couple of degrees. Or...you friend could just us the next higher octane fuel (if that's possible).
 
It is possible that the outer ring of the damper has move. Pull the plug from #1, rotate the crank until the piston is TDC and then check the timing mark.
 
Finally got the car back and the timing light says it is at TDC. IE: runs better but he must have changed the drive dog to get it to that place. He also changed the automatic choke to a manual which is probably an improvement. I am worried about the SMOG test in CA. One of the first checks is the timing and it will show 10 degrees off. If I want to put the drive dog one tick over, do I move it counter clockwise?
 
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